Florida Tourism Agency's Guide Will Drive You Happy

October 1, 2000|By Atlanta Journal-constitution

Even with today's high gas prices, a new Florida booklet will make you want to pack up the Chevy Suburban for a leisurely behind-the-wheel excursion.

"Worth the Drive," a free, 84-page guide published by Visit Florida, the state's tourism promotions agency, features driving tours of 10 regions, as well as theme tours that focus on ethnic heritage and outdoor adventure.

In the Panhandle, there's a trip down U.S. Highway 90 from Pensacola to Tallahassee. From the wooded bluffs overlooking Pensacola Bay, the road wanders through picturesque burgs such as DeFuniak Springs, with its Victorian homes and spring-fed lake, and by such eco-tourist attractions as Vortex Spring, where scuba enthusiasts can book a cave-diving tour.

Other mapped trips take travelers down the Tamiami Trail -- U.S. 41 from Tampa to Miami -- and State Road A1A on the Atlantic coast from Daytona Beach to Jensen Beach.

Ethnic heritage tours include the African-American Heritage Trail, which stretches from American Beach, on Amelia Island, to the Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts in Eatonville. There also are tours of Cuban and Native American historical spots, as well as a trek through state and national parks and specialized itineraries for birding and seeing lighthouses.

The new guide, which was released in September, is available at Florida welcome centers or by calling 1-888-735-2872. You also can view all the tours online at flausa.com.